As for the black storage bracelet, Han Li swept it with his divine sense before swiftly storing it away as well.
“Just to be safe, go check if the one who escaped is still lingering nearby. If you find them, kill them on sight,” Han Li instructed the small figure after a brief thought.
The purple-golden puppet nodded mechanically, then with a slight sway of its shoulders, transformed into a golden streak and shot into the distance—heading precisely in the direction where the Threefold Daoist had fled.
Having arranged everything, Han Li then conjured fireballs to reduce the mountain of flesh that was the remnants of the Immortal Venerable to ashes. Only then did he turn his gaze toward the valley.
At this moment, the entire valley remained shrouded in layers of formations, with powerful killing intent swirling ominously above. The earlier battle with Huang Yuanzi and the others, though brief, had undoubtedly not gone unnoticed by Yan Li and the others.
Thinking this, Han Li waved a hand through the air, summoning a flash of green light. Countless runes surged forth, swirling before coalescing into a hazy green mirror.
At first, the mirror showed nothing. But when Han Li flicked a finger, sending a golden talisman into it, a resonant hum echoed, and the image of a petite, beautiful woman appeared—Yan Li.
Yet her face was frozen in disbelief, as if she couldn’t fathom the outcome of the battle outside the valley. Three terrifying enemies, each on par with Qing Yuanzi, had been either slain or driven away by Han Li alone, leaving no further threats.
“Fellow Daoist Yan, are Yuan Yao and your master well?” Han Li asked calmly through the mirror.
“Master and Yuan Yao are fine, still enduring the last waves of the tribulation. Brother Han… have you truly advanced to the Mahayana stage?” Yan Li murmured, regaining some composure but still visibly shaken.
“If I hadn’t, how could I have slain and repelled those foes? Since Fellow Daoist Qing Yuanzi hasn’t finished his tribulation, I’ll wait here. Once he and Yuan Yao are done, I’ll meet them in person.”
With that, Han Li flicked his sleeve before Yan Li could respond. A strange ripple swept through the air, and the green mirror shattered back into scattered runes, vanishing.
He then flew to a nearby hill, settling onto a clean rock in a meditative posture.
Han Li knew well that despite his past dealings with Qing Yuanzi and his connection with Yuan Yao, their relationship was far from one of life-and-death trust. Thus, he made no request for Yan Li to open the valley’s restrictions, choosing instead to wait outside.
Once seated, he sent out a green streak—a message talisman—to inform the others on the distant Ink Spirit Ark to regroup with him.
Soon after, the black ark appeared on the horizon like a floating mountain.
Inside the formation, Yan Li sat atop a disc-shaped artifact, staring blankly at the scene reflected in a bronze mirror, her face still etched with disbelief.
Three days later, a deafening explosion echoed from the valley as the black tribulation clouds dispersed, replaced by Qing Yuanzi’s clear, triumphant cry—a sound brimming with joy.
“Congratulations on overcoming the tribulation,” Han Li said, rising from his meditation with a faint smile. His voice, though soft, carried unwavering clarity, undimmed by Qing Yuanzi’s roar.
“I must thank you, Fellow Daoist Han. Without your aid, I could never have weathered this tribulation undisturbed. And congratulations on your own ascension to Mahayana,” Qing Yuanzi replied, his laughter hearty.
Even while enduring the tribulation, Qing Yuanzi had remained aware of events outside, hence his gratitude.
“You flatter me. Even without my intervention, you surely had contingencies. These petty foes could never have truly disrupted your plans. But now that you’ve just survived the tribulation, focus on recovery. I’ll stand guard for two more days, lest others seek to harm you.”
“Since you’re so generous, I won’t refuse. In two days, I’ll personally express my thanks,” Qing Yuanzi agreed before falling silent, the valley’s restrictions stabilizing.
Having just endured the tribulation, he urgently needed to restore his vitality with elixirs.
Han Li gazed at the valley briefly before turning toward a distant peak, his lips curling into a knowing smile before he closed his eyes.
At that very moment, beneath a towering tree on that peak, a shadowy figure materialized—a middle-aged man in a golden robe and high crown, his refined features adorned with a long black beard.
It was Jin Yanhou, another Mahayana cultivator Han Li had once met in the Netherworld River. Though he should have left long ago, Jin Yanhou had lingered near Qing Yuanzi’s tribulation site, clearly harboring ulterior motives.
But now, as he stared at Han Li’s distant figure, his expression flickered between emotions before he finally sighed and vanished.
Having witnessed Han Li and the Gold Devouring Beetle King slaying peers with terrifying ease, Jin Yanhou abandoned any schemes. Worse, Han Li’s earlier glance had seemingly detected him, sending a chill down his spine.
Moments later, Jin Yanhou was already thousands of miles away, streaking back to his abode as a golden streak.
“To think that in just centuries, a mere Body Integration cultivator has not only reached my level but can slaughter peers with such ease… And that purple-gold puppet—what monstrous entity is it?” Jin Yanhou mused darkly as he flew.
—
Two days later, in an elegantly furnished hall, Qing Yuanzi sat at the head of the table, toasting Han Li repeatedly. Though pale and slightly unstable in aura, his spirits were high.
Behind him stood Yuan Yao and Yan Li, their curious eyes flitting between Han Li and the figures behind him—Xue Hun, Zhu Guo’er, and others.
During the tribulation, Yuan Yao had assisted Qing Yuanzi as instructed but emerged unscathed. Yet upon learning of Han Li’s Mahayana breakthrough, she had been as stunned as Yan Li, her mouth agape in shock.
Now, as Han Li’s gaze brushed Yuan Yao’s face, he recalled her adorable expression of disbelief and smiled faintly.
“Truthfully, though I knew your talents were extraordinary, I never imagined you’d reach this stage so swiftly—and even slay foes of my caliber. It seems my past assessment of you was far too modest,” Qing Yuanzi remarked.
“You overestimate me. My aptitude is mediocre. Only by venturing into the demon realm and seizing a great opportunity did I advance. But now that you’ve survived this tribulation, your cultivation will surely soar. Perhaps you’ll even ascend to the immortal realm.”
“Only the extraordinary seize extraordinary chances. No ordinary Body Integration cultivator would dare enter the demon realm. Your decisiveness alone sets you apart. As for me, surviving this tribulation merely grants me more years. Ascension is beyond my wildest dreams. But you, with your youth and power, stand a real chance.”
“Ascension remains distant for me. Without millennia of tempering, it’s impossible.”
“Millennia pass in a blink for beings like us. But if you truly aspire to ascend, preparations must begin early.”
“Oh? Do you know something…?” Han Li’s interest was piqued.
“I’ve simply lived longer. Also, to endure until ascension, you must prepare for your own heavenly tribulations in advance. If you’re willing, I’d gladly share my insights.”
“Then I’ll gladly accept your wisdom.”
Thus, the two delved into discussions about ascension and tribulation, their exchange lasting half a day before concluding reluctantly.
Finally, Han Li’s gaze settled on Yuan Yao as he spoke calmly to Qing Yuanzi:
“Fellow Daoist Qing, I came merely to check on you and the two ladies, with no ulterior motives. But now that you’ve survived the tribulation and they’ve regained their human forms, I wish to take them back to my clan. Would you permit this?”
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